CVE-2025-62753: 
WordPress vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2025-62753 is a Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability in the MadrasThemes MAS Videos WordPress plugin, classified under CWE-98 (Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program). It affects MAS Videos versions up to and including 1.3.4, allowing authenticated attackers with low privileges (Contributor/Developer level) to include arbitrary local files on the server. The vulnerability was reported by Muhammad Yudha - DJ on October 21, 2025, and publicly disclosed by Patchstack on December 30, 2025. It carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (High) (Patchstack, Red Hat CVE).

The root cause is improper handling of filenames passed to PHP include/require statements (CWE-98), which allows user-controlled input to influence which local file is included by the plugin. An authenticated attacker with Contributor or Developer privileges can craft a malicious request that manipulates the filename parameter, causing the server to include and execute arbitrary local PHP files or expose the contents of sensitive files. The attack vector is network-based, requires low privileges, no user interaction, and has high attack complexity. No public proof-of-concept code has been identified at this time (Patchstack).

Successful exploitation can expose sensitive server files — including configuration files containing database credentials — potentially enabling complete database takeover. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated as high impact, meaning an attacker could read sensitive files, modify application behavior by including malicious PHP files, or disrupt service availability. The scope is limited to the affected WordPress installation, but credential exposure could facilitate lateral movement to backend databases or other connected systems (Patchstack).

No active in-the-wild exploitation has been reported, and no public exploit code is known to be available. The EPSS score is approximately 0.127%, indicating a low probability of exploitation in the near term. Patchstack classifies the priority as "Low," noting the issue is unlikely to be exploited despite the high CVSS score. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Exploitation requires authenticated access at the Contributor or Developer role level, which raises the bar for opportunistic attackers (Patchstack).

1. Reconnaissance: Identify WordPress sites running the MAS Videos plugin (version ≤ 1.3.4) using tools like WPScan or by checking plugin metadata in publicly accessible readme.txt files.
2. Obtain authenticated access: Acquire a Contributor or Developer-level account on the target WordPress site (e.g., via credential stuffing, phishing, or registration if open).
3. Identify vulnerable parameter: Locate the plugin functionality that accepts a filename or template parameter passed to a PHP include/require statement within the MAS Videos plugin code.
4. Craft malicious request: Submit a crafted HTTP request with a manipulated filename parameter (e.g., path traversal sequences like ../../../../wp-config.php) targeting the vulnerable endpoint.
5. Retrieve sensitive files: The server includes the specified local file and returns its contents in the HTTP response, exposing credentials or other sensitive data such as wp-config.php (database credentials, secret keys).
6. Escalate access: Use exposed database credentials to access the WordPress database directly, potentially escalating to full site compromise or lateral movement (Patchstack).

• Logs: WordPress access logs showing authenticated POST or GET requests to MAS Videos plugin endpoints with path traversal sequences (e.g., ../, ..%2F, %2e%2e%2f) in parameter values.
• Logs: PHP error logs referencing unexpected file inclusion paths or include/require failures for files outside the plugin directory.
• Network: Unusual outbound connections from the web server following authenticated plugin interactions, potentially indicating secondary payload retrieval.
• File System: Unexpected new PHP files or web shells placed in the WordPress uploads or plugin directories following exploitation.
• Process: Unusual child processes spawned by the web server process (e.g., bash, curl, wget) after plugin endpoint access.

As of the disclosure date (December 30, 2025), no official patch from MadrasThemes was available for MAS Videos; Patchstack lists "No official patch available" for versions ≤ 1.3.4. Site administrators should monitor the WordPress plugin repository for an updated version and apply it immediately upon release. In the interim, disabling or removing the MAS Videos plugin is the most effective workaround. Restricting Contributor/Developer role assignments to trusted users and deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with LFI detection rules (e.g., via Patchstack's virtual patching) can reduce risk (Patchstack).

Wordfence included CVE-2025-62753 in its weekly WordPress vulnerability report covering December 15, 2025 to January 4, 2026 (Wordfence Blog). The vulnerability received brief coverage from TheHackerWire and was noted on social platforms including Bluesky and Mastodon shortly after disclosure. Community sentiment reflects low urgency given the authentication requirement and Patchstack's "Low" priority classification.